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Recognition

Recognition > Detailed information about the Cambridge AICE and Pre AICE Curriculum Continuum

About Cambridge AICE

The Cambridge Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) Diploma program is administered and assessed by University of Cambridge International Examinations, a not–for–profit department of the world renowned University of Cambridge in the UK. We offer a wide range of academic and vocational qualifications in more than 160 countries.

Cambridge AICE is an international pre–university curriculum and examination system, which emphasizes the value of broad and balanced study for academically able students. Its strengths lie in the flexibility and structure of the curriculum encouraging in–depth, working knowledge of each subject, and in essay–based examinations as assessment of that knowledge and skill mastery.

Cambridge AICE courses are equivalent to those offered at US university freshmen level or beyond. Routes to the Cambridge AICE Diploma are extremely flexible and offer students the opportunity to tailor their studies to their individual interests, abilities and future plans within an international curriculum framework.

The Cambridge AICE program was piloted and studied by the Florida Department of Education for four years in three Florida school districts and since 2001 has been approved for use in any Florida school district looking for an inexpensive, flexible advanced academic program for grades 11 and 12. In order to offer these and other Cambridge assessments schools must register with us as Examination Centers.

Pre–AICE Education – Cambridge IGCSE

The optional pre–AICE curriculum program, called the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE), was developed in 1985 to meet the need for an internationally focused curriculum appropriate for a wide range of student ability.

Cambridge IGCSE is suitable for grades 9 and 10 and features over 50 subjects with end of course, international criterion–referenced, externally assessed examinations as well. While schools offering Cambridge AICE subjects are not required to also offer Cambridge IGCSE courses, students are expected to have mastered the Cambridge IGCSE level of study and skills in a subject before beginning a Cambridge AICE subject course.

Most Cambridge IGCSE subjects are offered at two levels: extended and core. The extended level is for students planning to progress to Cambridge AICE or other college level equivalent courses in grades 11 and 12. The core level of Cambridge IGCSE is suitable for a wider range of ability student. Students at the core level may find during their course of study that they are actually able to move up to the higher, extended level of Cambridge IGCSE study and continue on to the Cambridge AICE program. This possibility opens doors for previously unidentified advanced students.

Pre–AICE Education – Lower Secondary and Primary Education

For middle schools, we offer the Cambridge Checkpoint three–year curricula for three subjects: Math, Science and English with externally written formative and summative assessments. In addition, the Cambridge International Primary Program curricula and formative Progression and summative Achievement assessments in Math, Science and English may be used starting in the first grade.

Skills development and assessment

The Primary, Lower Secondary, core and extended levels of Cambridge IGCSE, and International AS and A Levels in Cambridge AICE all emphasize the development of higher order thinking skills, oral skills, writing skills, problem solving, real world applications, independent investigative skills, teamwork, and international understanding. Assessment methods include written examinations, laboratory practicals for the science subjects, oral and listening tests for the languages, and coursework projects. These examination papers are sent to Cambridge for marking. While teachers are free to develop their own lesson plans based upon Cambridge AICE subject syllabuses, the variety of Cambridge assessment methods promotes the use of all these methods in the classroom.

The Advanced International Certification of Education Curriculum for Florida High School Diploma

Section 1003.428, F.S. effective 2007–08 defines the options for earning a A++ Plan High School Diploma: Graduation requires successful completion of either a minimum of 24 academic credits in grades 9 through 12, an International Baccalaureate curriculum, or an Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) curriculum. The components of the Cambridge AICE curriculum that meet this requirement are as follows:

Cambridge AICE subjects

Within Cambridge AICE, there are over 50 subjects from three curriculum areas:

• Mathematics and Sciences
• Languages
• Arts and Humanities

Most subjects may be studied at either the Cambridge International Advanced (A) Level, which has been offered worldwide for over 50 years, or at the Cambridge International Advanced Subsidiary (AS) Level.

Cambridge International A Level examinations generally require two years (360 hours) of study in a subject while Cambridge International AS Level examinations cover the first year (180 hours) of the two–year Cambridge International A Level syllabuses. Students are allowed to choose specific subjects and levels of study for each.

It is possible to take the Cambridge International AS Level examination one year and then continue study in that subject and take the remaining examination papers (called A2) required for a Cambridge International A Level examination the following year. Alternatively, students may opt to wait until after the second year of study to take all the examination papers at the Cambridge International A Level. Other students may choose to study a subject for a year and be assessed only at the Cambridge International AS Level and then select a different subject to study and be assessed at the Cambridge International AS Level the following year.

Completion of the Cambridge AICE curriculum would require students to complete six Cambridge AICE courses and take the examinations for each with at least one course and examination being from each of the three subject areas: Mathematics & Sciences, Languages, and Arts & Humanities.

In the Cambridge AICE Diploma qualification scheme, Cambridge International AS Level examinations passed earn one credit and each A Level examination passed counts for two credits. In addition, there is a Research Project option worth one credit, which requires a student to write two essays of between 3000 and 3500 words each from two different subjects for which Cambridge International AS and A Level examinations are taken. Students pursuing a full Cambridge AICE Diploma must earn a total of six credits and include at least one subject examination from each of the three curriculum areas at either Cambridge International AS or A Level.

The Cambridge AICE Diploma is awarded at Distinction, Merit or Pass level depending on the passing grades earned on the Cambridge AICE subject examinations. For Cambridge AICE exams, the Cambridge passing letter grades range from A to E with A being the highest. The lowest passing grade of E is equivalent to a US grade of C or a 3 on an Advanced Placement examination. Students may take up to 13 months to earn the six credits required for a Cambridge AICE Diploma. Students who do not qualify for a Cambridge AICE Diploma will receive Cambridge International AS or A Level General Certificate of Education (GCE) subject certificates for the subject examinations they passed. Students who complete the Cambridge AICE curriculum will be provided with the best possible foundation for advanced post secondary studies anywhere in the world.

Cambridge AICE Exams and College Credits

Both Cambridge AS and A Levels are considered college level courses of study and students passing these examinations with a Cambridge grade of E or higher may receive up to 45 hours of college credit or advanced standing based on their scores in these examinations from universities throughout the United States and all public universities and colleges in Florida.

Please note that each US university sets their own policy and students are advised to directly contact the admissions office at the university of interest to learn their credit by examination policy for GCE / International AS and A Levels which are also known as ‘Cambridge AICE’ exams.

Credit is typically awarded based on each subject and examination grade earned.

Cambridge AICE Diploma and Curriculum completion to qualify for Florida Bright Futures Scholarships (Florida students only)

Florida high school graduates who have earned a Cambridge AICE Diploma and completed an approved 75 hour community service program automatically qualify for the Florida Academic Scholars Award (100% tuition) from the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program. Students who complete the AICE curriculum (see above curriculum definition) with best composite score of 1270 SAT or 28 ACT and 75 hours of community service will also receive the Florida Academic Scholars Award. Students who have completed Cambridge AICE curriculum with best composite score of 970 SAT or 20 ACT and 75 hours community service will receive the Florida Medallion Scholars Award (75% tuition) from the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program.

How to find out more

For additional information about the Cambridge AICE program, please contact our US Representative, Sherry Reach, at 850.230.4770 M–F 9–5 CST or email cieusrep@comcast.net

To see a list of subjects, downloadable syllabuses and sample examination papers please visit the Qualifications section of the Cambridge website and follow the link to AICE Diploma. In the Qualifications section, you can also find out more information about Cambridge Checkpoint and the Cambridge International Primary Programme.